Locking device for securing loads

ABSTRACT

A locking device for securing loads in the bed of a pick-up truck, moving truck hauler, and for use generally in locking loads being transported in any type of truck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a locking device for securing loads in the bedof a pick-up truck, moving truck hauler, or any other type of transportvehicle and for use generally in locking loads being transported in anytype of truck.

Pick-up trucks are very popular vehicles and in part, this popularity isdue to their load carrying capacity and compact size, together withother factors such as maneuverability, fuel economy and versatility. Onedisadvantage of pick-up trucks, however, is that they are not generallyequipped with anchor points to secure and restrain loads. In some cases,stake pockets are provided in the rim or lip of the box but these areoften inadequate and of course, it may be necessary to keep them freefor their intended purpose.

Currently, pick-up truck drivers use two-by-fours and other such typesof support bars across the width of the bed to secure and restrainloads. Pick up drivers typically create entire blocks of two-by-fours inorder to secure the loads that are being transported in the bed of thetrucks. Such efforts are significantly time consuming. Also, theconstruction of such blocks are not durable over time to be used andreused with different loads. While the use of two-by-fours is thetrusted method among drivers to secure loads, currently there are nomeans by which to quickly, easily and safely secure such two-by-fours orother support bars to the bed of the pick-up truck, moving truck hauleror other type of transport vehicle.

The object of this invention is to provide a locking device for use witha pick-up truck bed, moving truck hauler or other type of transportvehicle, which will facilitate the safe transportation of loads whichmay be installed with minimal effort and minimum alteration to thevehicle. The present invention allows the user to quickly, easily andsafely secure a load in the bed of the pick-up truck at any point alongthe length of the bed, even towards the front of the bed. The presentinvention further allows the user to safely secure a load in the bed ofthe pick-up truck at any point along the height of the bed, even towardsthe bottom of the bed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The locking device of the present invention is attached to the sidewalls of the bed of a pick-up truck, moving truck hauler or other typeof transport vehicle, and comprises of at least two support railsaffixed to each interior side wall of the bed and extending lengthwiseor height wise along the interior of the bed, at least two lock blockshaving at least two right angled projections extending from the top andbottom portions of each lock block in order to slide onto each supportrail, at least two housing units into which the ends of at least onetwo-by-four or other types of support beams fit where each housing unitfits over each lock block and each housing unit has at least fourprojections that push into the top and bottom grooves of each of thesupport rails, and at least two hinged locking handles connected to eachhousing unit where each hinged locking handle has at least one lockingarm at the housing unit end that forms a cam that when the hingedlocking handle is engaged locks each housing unit and lock block intoeach corresponding support rail and also secures the at least onetwo-by-four or other types of support beams into place in each housingunit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of two locking devices each designedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the figureillustrating each locking device in the engaged (locked) position.

FIG. 2 top perspective view of two locking devices each designed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the figureillustrating each locking device in the engaged (locked) position.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of two locking devices each designedin accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the figureillustrating each locking device in the disengaged (open) position.

FIG. 4 is a side cutaway view of a pair of locking devices designed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the figureillustrating a locking device pair securing a two-by-four or other typeof support beam, wherein one locking device is in the engaged (closed)position and the other locking device is in the disengaged (open)position; and

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a locking device designed inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the figureillustrating the locking device in the engaged (locked) positionsecuring a two-by-four or other type of support beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A locking device, according to the present invention, is shown at 1 inFIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates two embodiments of the locking device whereinone embodiment may be used to secure a two-by-four or other type ofsupport beam and another embodiment that may be used to secure rope,thread or other securing means. The locking device 1 of the presentinvention that may be used to secure a two-by-four or other type ofsupport beam has at least two support rails 3 affixed to each interiorside wall of the bed of a pickup truck, moving truck hauler or any othertype of transport vehicle, and extending lengthwise or height wise alongsuch interior, at least two lock blocks (not shown) having at least tworight angled projections extending from the top and bottom portions ofeach lock block in order to slide onto each support rail 3 and each lockblock (not shown) having a center projection with at least one throughhole, at least two housing units 9 into which the ends of at least onetwo-by-four or other types of support beams fit where each housing unit9 fits over each lock block (not shown) and each having at least onethrough hole or opening (not shown) that aligns with the through hole ineach lock block (not shown) and having at least four projections 41 onthe back side of each housing unit 9 that push into the top groove 5 andbottom groove 7 of each of the support rails 3, and at least two hingedlocking handles 13 connected to each housing unit 9 where each hingedlocking handle 13 has at least one locking arm 15 at the housing unitend that forms a cam that when the hinged locking handle 13 is engagedlocks each housing unit 9 and lock block 51 into each correspondingsupport rail 3 and also secures the at least one two-by-four or othertypes of support beams into place in each housing unit 9.

In one embodiment, the at least two support rails 3 may be E shaped inprofile, as shown in FIG. 4, such that each support rail contains a lip55 at the top side and bottom side of the support rail 3 and a centerprojection 57. The side walls 59 of the center projection of the supportrail 3 may angle outward such that the height of the center projection57 may be greater at its distal end than the height of the centerprojection 57 at its proximal end near the back wall of the support rail3. Preferably, the side walls 59 of the center projection 57 may angleout at an angle approximate to 60 degrees from the center of the centerprojection 57.

In the present invention, the at least two lock blocks 51, as shown inFIG. 4, slide onto the at least two support rails 3 that have beenattached to the interior side walls of the bed of the pickup truck,moving truck hauler or any other type of transport vehicle. The at leasttwo right angled projections 43 of each lock block 51 slide into the topgroove 5 and bottom groove 7 of each support rail 3. Each lock block 51has a center projection 57 containing at least one through hole oropening 29 that aligns with a through hole or opening (not shown) in thecorresponding housing unit 9.

Each housing unit 9 of the present invention has one bottom wall 34, atop wall 39, two side walls 35, a cavity (not shown) in the backside ofthe housing unit 9 into which the lock block 51 fits, and a back wall 19with at least four projections 41 extending from the back side of eachhousing unit 9 that fit into the top groove 5 and bottom groove 7 of thesupport rail 3. The front side of the back wall 19 has at least twoindentations or grooves 61 into which the end of the locking arm 15 ofthe hinged locking handle 13 fits. The back wall 19 of the housing unit9 further has at least one through hole (not shown) that extendsthroughout the housing unit 9 and is aligned with the through hole 29 inthe lock block 51.

The hinged locking handle 13 may have a top portion 17 which the usermay depress to activate the hinged locking handle 13, and two sidepanels 63 each containing a locking arm 15 that fit into theindentations or grooves 61 of the back wall 19 of the housing unit 9,wherein each locking arm 15 of the hinged locking handle 13 ends in acam. The end of each locking arm 15 further has a through hole oropening 65 that is aligned with the through hole in the housing unit(not shown) and through hole 29 in the lock block 51.

In the present invention, there may be one pin that is placed throughthe through holes 65 of the locking arms 15 of each hinged lockinghandle 13, the through hole of each housing unit (not shown) and thethrough hole 29 of each lock block 51, in order to transform thecomponents of the locking device 1 into a single functioning unit.

In the disengaged (open) position of the locking device 1, as shown inFIG. 3, the hinged locking handle 13 is in a raised position. To movethe hinged locking handle 13 into the engaged (locked) position, asshown in FIG. 2, to secure the two by four or other type of support barsinto the housing unit 9, the user depresses the top portion 17 of thehinged locking handle 13 to cause the locking arm 15 to rotate downwardtoward the bottom wall 34 of the housing unit 9 and the end of thelocking arm 15 that forms a cam rotates relative to the pin placedthrough the through holes to then become engaged with the back wall ofthe indentations or grooves 61 of the housing unit 9.

The cam at the end of the locking arm 15 is preferably a solid designand is substantially round in shape including a flatter portion 45. FIG.4 illustrates the locking device 1 in a disengaged (open) positionwherein the hinged locking handle 13 is raised above the at least onetwo-by-four or other types of support beams 67 placed in each housingunit 9. FIG. 4 further illustrates the locking device 1 in the engaged(locked) position, where the top portion 17 of the hinged locking handle13 has been depressed such that the top portion 17 is nearly parallelwith the at least one two-by-four or other types of support beams 67that is secured in place in each housing unit 9.

When the hinged locking handle 13 is in the disengaged (open) position,the flatter portion 45 of the cam is nearly parallel with the back wallof the indentation or groove 61 of the housing unit 9. As the userdepresses the top portion 17 of the hinged locking handle 13, the camrotates relative to the pin (not shown) placed through the through hole29 in the lock block 51 and the flatter portion 45 of the cam rotatesupward toward the top wall 39 of the housing unit 9 to the point wherethe positioning of the cam impedes the movement of the hinged lockinghandle 13 thereby locking the hinged locking handle 13 into place andalso consequently securing the two-by four or other type of support bar67 into place. Further, while the user is depressing the top portion 17of the hinged locking handle 13 and the cam is rotating relative to thepin, the flatter portion 45 of the cam applies a force upon theindentation or groove 61 of the housing unit 9 whereby the housing unit9 is pushed further into the support rails 3 because the at least fourprojections 41 extending from the back side of each housing unit 9 arebeing forced further into the top grove 5 and bottom groove 7 of each ofthe support rails 3. By fully depressing the top portion 17 of thehinged locking handle 13, each housing unit 9 is locked into the supportrail 3. In addition to locking the housing unit 9 into the support rail3, by fully depressing the top portion 17 of the hinged locking handle13, the rotation of the cam also forces the lock block 51 to be lockedinto the support rail 3 because the lock block 51 is thereby pulledtoward the housing unit 9 such that the right angled projections 43 ofeach lock block become flush with the side walls 59 of the support rail3. By fully depressing the top portion 17 of the hinged locking handle13, each lock block 51 is locked into the support rail 3.

In one embodiment of the invention, there may be at least two cushionsthat are placed between each housing unit 9 and support rail 3. Whilethe user is depressing the top portion 17 of the hinged locking handle13 to engage the locking device 1, the at least two cushions 11 arecompressed to enable the at least four projections 41 extending from theback side of each housing unit 9 to be further forced into the topgroove 5 and bottom groove 7 of the support rails 3. The at least twocushions 41 allow for greater amount of give to further secure thelocking device 1. The at least two cushions 11 further have slots oropenings (not shown) that allow the at least four projections 41 toprotrude through the at least two cushions 11 into the top groove 5 andbottom groove 7 of the support rails 3.

The hinged locking handle 13 may also have one side wall 63 thatcontains an opening or through hole 33 through which a lock may beplaced when the hinged locking handle 13 is engaged to further securethe two-by-four or other support beams into place and to prevent theftof the locking device 1.

The bottom wall 34 of the housing unit 9 may contain at least one notchor groove 31 into which the end of at least one side wall 63 of thehinged locking handle 13 may fit when the hinged locking handle 13 is inthe engaged (closed) position.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the locking device 1 maybe used to secure rope, thread or other securing means. In thisembodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing unit 21 has an opening 27though which a user may pass through an end of a rope, thread or anyother securing means. As in the embodiment used to secure the at leastone two-by-four or other types of support beams, the housing unit 21fits over each lock block (not shown) and has at least one through holeor opening (not shown) that aligns with the through hole in each lockblock (not shown). Also, as in the embodiment used to secure the atleast one two-by-four or other types of support beams, the housing unit21 has at least four projections 41 on the back side of each housingunit 21 that push into the top groove 5 and bottom groove 7 of each ofthe support rails 3. In this embodiment, the locking device 1 has leastone hinged locking handle 25 connected to each housing unit 21 whereeach hinged locking handle 25 has at least one locking arm 23 at thehousing unit end that forms a cam that when the hinged locking handle 25is engaged locks each housing unit 21 and lock block (not shown) intoeach corresponding support rail 3.

The at least two support rails 3 of the present invention may containopenings for means of attaching the at least two support rails 3 to theinterior side walls of the bed of a pick up truck, moving truck hauleror any other type of transport vehicle. The opening in the at least twosupport rails 3 may be used to drill attachment means into the interiorside walls of the vehicle.

One advantage of the present invention is that the locking device 1 maybe moved anyplace along the length or height of the interior of the bedand then locked into placed at any point along the length or height ofthe interior of the bed of a pick up truck, moving truck hauler or anyother type of transport vehicle.

Preferably, the at least two support rails 3 may be affixed to theinterior side walls of the bed of a pick up truck or any other type oftransport vehicle directly beneath the lip of the bed. Preferably, thewidth of the support rail 3 is equal to or less than the width of suchlip such that the support rail 3 does not impede any loading orunloading of objects into the bed when the locking device 1 is not inuse. Alternatively, the at least two support rails 3 may not be affixedto the interior side wall of the bed but rather is mounted to the lip ofthe bed by bracketing means.

In another embodiment of the invention, the locking arm 15 does not endin a cam but is replaced with a one way clutch mechanism. In thisembodiment, the indentation or groove 61 of the back wall of the housingunit 9 and the end of the locking arm 15 of the hinged locking handle 13create a one way clutch mechanism such that the depression of the topportion 17 of the hinged locking handle 13 locks the hinged lockinghandle 13 and raising the top portion 17 of the hinged locking handle 13unlocks the hinged locking handle 13. The one way clutch may beaccomplished through any conventional clutch means including but notlimited to sprags, v-type springs, according springs, ribbon springs orany other conventional type of spring, or a freewheel clutch.

The foregoing disclosure has been set forth to illustrate the inventionand is not intended to be limiting. Alternative modifications of thedisclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of theinvention will occur to persons skilled in the art, and accordingly theinvention should be construed to include everything that falls withinthe scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

1. A locking device for use in securing loads in the bed of a pick-uptruck, moving truck hauler, or any other type of transport vehiclecomprising: at least two support rails affixed to the interior side wallof the bed of a pick-up truck, moving truck hauler, or any other type oftransport vehicle; at least two lock blocks that each slide on to eachsupport rail; at least two housing units that each fits over each lockblock and into which the ends of at least one two-by-four or other typesof support beams may fit; and at least two hinged locking handles thateach is connected to each housing unit and may be engaged to secure atleast one two-by-four or other types of support beams into place and tosecure the at least two lock blocks and at least two housing units intothe corresponding support rails.
 2. A locking device of claim 1, whereinthe at least two hinged locking handles have a locking arm ending in acam that when the at least two hinged locking handles are engaged thecam rotates and applies a force upon the at least two housing units andthe at least two lock blocks securing the at least two housing units andthe at least two lock blocks into the corresponding support rails.
 3. Alocking device of claim 1, wherein there are at least two cushionsplaced between the at least two housing units and corresponding supportrails that may be compressed when the hinged locking handle is engagedto secure the at least two housing units and at least two lock blocksinto the at least two support rails.
 4. A locking device of claim 1,wherein there is a pin placed through the openings or through holes inthe at least two hinged locking handles, at least two housing units, andat least two lock blocks to secure the locking device as a singlefunctioning unit.
 5. A locking device of claim 1, wherein the hingedlocking handle may have an opening to allow the locking device to belocked with a padlock or deadbolt.
 6. A locking device of claim 1,wherein the at least two support rails may have openings or throughholes for means of attaching the at least two support rails to theinterior side walls of the bed of a pick up truck, moving truck hauleror any other type of transport vehicle.
 7. A locking device of claim 1,wherein the at least two hinged locking handles and at least two housingunits create a one way clutch mechanism to secure the at least onetwo-by-four or other types of support beams into place.
 8. A lockingdevice of claim 1, wherein the at least two support rails are affixedlengthwise to the interior side walls of the bed of a pick up truck,moving truck hauler or any other type of transport vehicle.
 9. A lockingdevice of claim 1, wherein the at least two support rails are affixedheight wise to the interior side walls of the bed of a pick up truck,moving truck hauler or any other type of transport vehicle.
 10. Alocking device of claim 1, wherein the at least two housing units and atleast two hinged locking handles are of a durable rigid plastic.
 11. Alocking device for use in securing loads in the bed of a pick-up truck,moving truck hauler, or any other type of transport vehicle comprising:at least two support rails affixed to the interior side wall of the bedof a pick-up truck, moving truck hauler, or any other type of transportvehicle; at least two lock blocks that each slide on to each supportrail; at least two housing units that each fits over each lock block andinto which the end of a piece of rope, thread or other securing meansmay pass through; and at least two hinged locking handles that each isconnected to each housing unit and may be engaged to secure the at leasttwo lock blocks and at least two housing units into the correspondingsupport rails.
 12. A locking device of claim 11, wherein the at leasttwo hinged locking handles have a locking arm ending in a cam that whenthe at least two hinged locking handles are engaged the cam rotates andapplies a force upon the at least two housing units and at least twolock blocks securing the at least two housing units and at least twolock blocks into the corresponding support rails.
 13. A locking deviceof claim 11, wherein there are at least two cushions placed between theat least two housing units and corresponding support rail that may becompressed when the hinged locking handle is engaged to secure the atleast two housing units and at least two lock blocks into the at leasttwo support rails.
 14. A locking device of claim 11, wherein there is apin placed through the openings or through holes in the at least twohinged locking handles, at least two housing units, and at least twolock blocks to secure the locking device as a single functioning unit.15. A locking device of claim 11, wherein the hinged locking handle mayhave an opening to allow the locking device to be locked with a padlockor deadbolt.
 16. A locking device of claim 11, wherein the at least twosupport rails may have openings or through holes for means of attachingthe at least two support rails to the interior side walls of the bed ofa pick up truck, moving truck hauler or any other type of transportvehicle.
 17. A locking device of claim 11, wherein the at least twohinged locking handles and at least two housing units create a one wayclutch mechanism to secure the at least one two-by-four or other typesof support beams into place.
 18. A locking device of claim 11, whereinthe at least two support rails are affixed lengthwise to the interiorside walls of the bed of a pick up truck, moving truck hauler or anyother type of transport vehicle.
 19. A locking device of claim 11,wherein the at least two support rails are affixed height wise to theinterior side walls of the bed of a pick up truck, moving truck hauleror any other type of transport vehicle.
 20. A locking device of claim11, wherein the at least two housing units and at least two hingedlocking handles are of a durable rigid plastic.